Arsenal have reportedly signed goalkeeper James Hillson on loan from Championship outfit Reading.

Jeorge Bird, citing journalist Jonathan Low, is reporting that Hillson has linked up with the Gunners U18 squad and will provide competition for Arthur Okonkwo.

Arsenal U18s are short in numbers in the goalkeeping department with Karl Hein still recovering from injury and Daniel Barden departing the club three months ago.

Prior to his spell on the sidelines, Hein acted as cover for first-choice U18 goalkeeper Okonkwo, who has played in more than half of their games in the U18 Premier League and got the nod to be in goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Youth Cup.

The 6ft 5in Okonkwo is highly regarded at the Emirates and has been invited to train with the first team on more than one occasion.

The 17-year-old netminder signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in September 2018, two months after he became a first-year scholar at the club.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com